Thermometer-case.



M. W. REED.

THBRMOMETER CASE.

APPLIOATION nun n0v.1a, 1008.

918,472. Patented Apr. 13,1909.

J V Emwntoz My; M/Zwd 'tudinal section of the same.

UNITED s'rri'rns PATENT {)Fl lCE.

MARVIN W. REED, OF SOUTH FORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

THERMOME'IER-CASE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it. known that I, MARVIN W. REED, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at South Fork, in the county of Cambria and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful improvements inThermometer-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a casing for clinical thermometers of the typecommonly used by ph sicians and professional nurses in taking t etemperature of patients, the object of the invention being to provide acasing in which one or more thermometers may be carried in a securemanner, and which is adapted to contain a germ destroying solution inwhich the tips and adjacent portions of the thermometers are immersed,whereby the thermometers may be sterilized and kept in a thoroughlyaseptic condition, thus preventing any possibility of transmittingdisease germs from the mouth of one patient to another even in the eventof the imperfect sterilization of the instrument after use and before itis restored to the casing.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of I parts hereinafter fully described and claimed,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is aside elevation of a thermometer casing embodying my invention asarranged to be carried in the pocket and secured to the person. Fig. 2is a longil ig. 3 is a section showing a detail of construction.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates casing of suitable size and formto lit within a vest or waist pocket, and preferably constructed ofaluminum or other suitable ma terial. The interior of this casin g isdivided by two parallel vertical longitudinal partitions 2 to form apair of outer chambers 3 for the reception of a pair of ordinaryclinical thermometers 4, and an intermediate chamber or compartment 5forming a reservoir for a store or charge of a suitable germicide orantiseptic solution, such as peroxid of hydrogen or permanganate ofpotassium of proper strength, the use of which solutions is preferred,as they will not actchemically upon the material of which the casing iscomposed.

The germicide reservoir 5 terminates at its upper end a distanceslightly below the cen- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 13, 1908.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Serial No. 462,528.

ter of the casing and is closed by a transverse head or partition 6,through which opens the lower end of a filling tube 7, opening at itsupper end through the top of the space or chamber 8 between the upperportions of the thermometer chambers and above the reservoir 5 andseparated from the latter by the said partition 6, the said upper end ofthe tube being internally threaded to receive a threaded cap or closure9.

The thermometers 4 are of the ordinary type in common use amongphysicians and professional nurses, and fit at their upper ends withinhollow screw caps 10 which close the upper internally threaded ends ofthe chambers 8, whereby, when the thermometers are contained within thecasing, the chambers will be closed against the access of foreignsubstances and the escape of the germicide solution in the event of thecasing being accidentally inverted.

The storage reservoir 5 is in communication with the upper and lowerends of the thermometer chambers by way of ports or openings 11 and 12formed in the partitions 2, thus allowing the germicide solution tocirculate or flow back and forth from the storage compartment to thethermometer chambers to provide for its roper displacement from one tothe other dining the insertion and removal of the thermometers, as wellas for the passage of air between the reservoir and chambers when thereservoir is being filled or the solution is passing bar-k and forth tocompensate for variations in the eflective capacity of either chamberwhen the thermometer is inserted or removed. The tops and adjacentportions of the thermometers are designed to be immersed in theantiseptic solution in the bottom portions of the chambers, so as todestroy any bacteria which they may carry and to render and maintainthem sterile while they are inclosed within the casing. As stated, theupper ends of the thermometers are iitted Within the hollow caps 10.Each thermometer is preferably secured in its cap by glue or cement sothat if it should be accidentally broken the adhering portion may be detached from the cap and another thermometer of the same size purchasedand secured in its place.

The reservoir in practice is made but half the height of the thermometerchambers, or less, to prevent the antiseptic solution from risingsufficiently high in the thermometer holders to cause an overflow when athermometer is being placed in its position in either chamber before thesolution can readjust itself to the level of the solution in thereservoir. he reservoir may be emptied and replenished at desiredintervals with a fresh charge of the solution by unscrewing the cap 9and supplying the fresh solution: through the tube 8. In this operation,one of the thermometers is partially removed by unscrewing its cap 10and slightly elevating the thermometer so as to allow a free passage forthe eXit of the air from the storage chamber displaced by the enteringliquid. This will also prevent bubbling of the liquid through the tubeto the reservoir in the filling operation. r'iny suitable fasteningmeans may be employed to secure the casing to the vest, waist or otherarticle of clothing of the wearer in order to guard against possibleaccidental loss or dropping of the same from the pocket. The fasteningdevice shown in the present instance comprises a chain 13 secured at oneend to the casing and carrying at its opposite or free end a safety pin14 or the like for attaching the chain to the garment.

After using a thermometer in the customary manner to take thetemperature of a patient, the physician or nurse may simply rinse thethermometer in a glass of water and replace it in the case, theantiseptic solution rendering it within a minimum proportion of timethoroughlysterile, so as to prevent any possibility of transmittingdisease germs from one patient to another. Frequently a physician ornurse, through lack of time or care, fails to thoroughly clean athermometer which has been used before restoring it to its casing, inwhich event there is always danger of'the transmission of disease fromone patient to another. My invention avoids this objection, as, even inthe event of the imperfect priorsterilization of the instrument afteruse, any bacteria which may be carried thereby will be destroyed by thegermicide solution as soon as it is restored to the casing.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1.A thermometer case comprising a flattened tube closed at its lower end,longitudinal partitions subdividing the interior of the tube to formthermometer compartments open at their upper ends and an interposedstorage chamber for a germicide solution communicating at its upper andlower ends with said compartments, a fillhig attachment supported by thecase and communicating with said storage chamber, and thermometersadapted to occupy the compartments and provided with closures for theopen ends thereof. 7

A thermometer casing comprising a flattened tube closed at its lower endand provided with spaced longitudinal partitions forming counterpartthermometer compartments open at their upper ends and an interposedgermicide storage chamber between lower portions of one-half of thecompartments, said chamber being in communication at its upper and lowerends with said compartments, a filling device arranged between th upperportions of the compartments and c1. municating with the storagechamber, thermomet s adapted to fit within. the compartments, 1ndclosures for said compartments carried by the thermometers.

3. A thermometer easing comprising a flattened tube closed at itslowerend and subdivided to p; c vide spaced thermon'ieter comrtmentsopen at their upper ends and an interposed germicide storage chambercommunicating with said compartments, a fillg tube carried by the casingand commuating with said storage chamber, a removable closure for thetube, and thermometers adapted to t within the compartments and providedwith screw caps to close the open ends thereof.

4. A thermometer casing provided with a pair of thermoieter chambers,and a storage chamber for a rmicido solution disposed the thermometerchambers and terminating below the upper ends of the latter, saidstorage chamber being in communication at its upper and lower ends withthe thermometer chambers, and a filling. tube extending dcwn between theupper ends of the thermo: iete chambers and in communication at itslewer end with the storage chamber, said tube having a suitable closure.

5. A thermometer casing having thermometer receiving chambers, hollowscrew caps )1 closi said chambers, a storage reservoir for a rmicidesolution arranged be tween the lower ends of the receiving chainbers andin communication at its upper and lower ends therewith, a filling tubein communication at its lower end with the storage chamber and extendingu wardly between the receiving chambers, a c osure for the upper end ofsaid tube, and thermometers adapted to fit within the receivingchambersand secured within the said screw caps.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARVIN W. REED.

Witnesses C. A. FITZGERALD, H. E. S. VILT.

